Player-piano.



W.1. CHER-RY.

-PLAYER PLANO.

APPLICATION FILED DECfH-, 1914. 1,166,185. Patented De.28,1915. 6SHEETS-SHEET l.

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I COLUMBIA PLANDQRAPH CO..WASM|NGTOND, c.

W. J. CHERRY.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.19. 1914.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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Sme/who@ W. J. CHERRY` PLAYER PIANO.

A-PPLICATlON FILED DEC. 19| I9l4.

1,166,185` f Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLASQGRAPH co,.wAsmNG'roN. D. C4

W. J. CHERRY.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED nc.19. 1914.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOQRAPH Co.,w^sM|NGToN, mc. v

W. I. CHERRY.

PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED Dsc. I9. 1914.

Patent-ed Dec. 28, 1915.-

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PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9. I9I4.

1,166,185. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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VIHIMII Chevry CGLUMBIA PLlINanRAl-H Co.,w^SHlNu'roN D c @vH/nem@ lWILLIAM J. CHERRY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLAYER-PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

y Patented Dec. 28,1915.

Application filed December 19, 1914. Serial No. 878,138.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it know that I, l/VILLIAM J. CHERRY, of

`New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Player'- Pianos; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescripticn of the invention7 such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it \appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in player' pianos and moreparticularly to that type of case for a piano mechanism which includesmeans for controlling treadles which operate the bellows, and means forcontrolling the doors which cover the treadle and tracker bar openingswhen the player mechanism of the piano is in the inoperative position.

One object of my invention is to pro-vide controlling means forsynchronously operating the treadles and doors in consecutive order, sothat, by a movement of the controlling means, the doors concealing thetreadles and tracker bar will be opened and the treadles will beprojected into the operative position or vice versa.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a key lock and meansfor concealing the manually operated expression levers, bcth of thesebeing operable from the treadle and door operating mechanism and beingoperable .simultaneously therewith.

A still further obiect of my invention is the provision of suitable lostmot-ion connections in the treadle and door operating mechanism, so thatthe doors will be open before the treadles begin to move, or in closingthe instrument, the treadles will move into the inoperative or retractedposition before the doors begin to close.

A still further novel feature resides in the provision of means engagingonly one of a series of connecting` door sections for closing thetreadle and tracker bar openings, so that when one door section ismoved, the other door section will be corre-spondinglv moved in unisontherewith.

Other features of novelty will be more fully described in connectionwith the accompanying drawing. forming a part of this specification, andwill be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevaticn view of a piano caseembodying the preferred. form of. my rwentell, and, having portionsthereof broken away for the purpose of showing details. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation through the piano case shown in Fig. 1 and taken onthe line A-B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the lineC-D of Fig. 1, showing in detail the preferred form of mechanism. F 4fis a rear elevation of one of the driven .members showing the key lockand pedal operating connections attached thereto. Fig. 5 is a face viewof the gear which meshes with the driven gear member shown in Fig. Lt.Fig. 6 is a face elevation view of the toothed quae rant which mesheswith the gear driven member for operating the treadle doors. Fig. 7 isan elevation view showing the toothed quadrant in meslied re` lationwith its driving element. Fig. S is a view of one preferred form ofcable connection, for use in connecting the door sections. Fig. 9 is aperspective view showing the door structures comprising connected doorsections and the door, treadle, key lock and key slip operatingmechanism. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing one modifiedform of operating mechanism. Fig. 11 is a section view taken on atransverse plane and showing in detail the modified form of myinvention. Figs. 12 and 13 are details of the two preferred types oflost motion devices which may be employed in the modified form. Fig. 14is a detail view showing the links comprising the modified form inseparated relaticn to better illustrate the manner of their cooperation.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts througout thedifferent l'igures of the drawings.

I will now proceed to describe the specific forms of my invention asillustrated in the drawings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, in which I haveillustrated that form of my invention which includes toothed gear meansfor imparting motion to the doors, treadles, key lock and key slip, 1represents the usual type of piano instrument case including upper andlower panel falls i?. and 3 respectively, having, in this case, sincethe instrument is of the player piano type, a tracker bar opening 4 inthe upper panel 2 and a treadle opening 5 in the lower panel 3. As isusual in player piano constructions the bellows 6 are disposed withinthe case l behind the lower panel 3.

(Juni rlhese bellows are supported by a bracket 7 on a step piece 8, andthe step piece 8 is provided with an extension 9 to which is pivoted abell crank lever 10 having connection with a support 11 to which arepivoted the treadles 12 for operating the bellows 6 connected to thetreadles by the link 18. These readies are so mounted on the bracket 9as to be i'oldable within the case 1 through the opening` 5 in the lowerpanel 3.

@n the key bed 1l oi the piano case 1 is hung a bracket 15 in which isjoui'naled a shaft 1G squared on its upper end as shown at 1T andcarrying on its lower end the superposed concentric bevel gears 18 and19. rllhe gear 19 is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 16 andcarries a. pin 20 which en- .Oages an arcuate slot 21 in the gea-r 18,the

a gear 18 being loosely mounted on the shait 17, thus providing lostmotion connection or driv between the two gears 18 and 19. lever 22 titson the squared end 17 of the shaft 16 and is provided with a handle 23i'ior manually moving` the said lever Q2. The gear 19 meshes with a gear2st having its axis of rotation at right angles to the axes or" rotationot the gears 18 and 19. rEhe gear 2l is provided en its plain surfacewith a crank pin 25 upon which is journaled a connecting rod 26;. thelower end oj which is connected at 2T with the bell crank lever 10; thusit will be seen that if the lever moved to rotate the gear 19 in thedirection indicated by the arrow in F ig. 9 the tieadles 12 will beswung upwardly through the opening 13 into a retracted oi' inoperativeposition within the case 1, it the lever be moved in a directionopposite to that ot' the arrow shown in Fig. 9 the treadles will beprojected through the opening 5 into an operative position as shown inFigs. 2 and 9.

1n constructing player pianos it has been found advisable to incorporatea key lock tor locking the keys when the piano is being automaticallyopei'ated, also it has been found advisable to provide a key slip forthe manually operated expression levers 28 when the automatic mechanismof the player piano is not in use, however these expression levers 28iiiust be exposed when the piano is being operated automatically,therefore on the frontportion of the key bed 14 I have provided a keyslip 2,9 hinged at 30 and suitably liollowed out at 31 for concealingthe expression levers 28, and this key slip is connected at its free endvitli the free end of the key lock 82 by a link the key lock 32 beinghinged at 342 so that it may be operated to the key locking position asshown in F ig. 2 or to the key free position. Since these two elements,namely, the key slip and the key lock are connected by means of the link33 it will be seen that it' the key lock is operated to the key lockingposition, as shown, the key slip lwill be `Vturned down into theposition shown in Fig. 2 and the expression levers exposed to view torinanual operation, whereas, it the key lock 32 is operated tothe keytree position, the key slip 29 will be turned up to the verticalpositicn, thereby concealing the expression levers 28 from view. Now inorder to operate these elements, namely, the key lock and key slip 29,simultaneously with the operation of the treadles 12 and from the samesource, the key lock has connected thereto a lever 85 and this lover 85is connected to a second crank pin on the plain tace ol the gear 2-1,thus when the gear is operated it will move the treadles, key slip, andkey lock simultaneously.

ln order to properly conceal the treadles when they are in the retractedor inoperative position l have provided a dooi' structure composed olthe door sections 37 and 88 and the parallel horiaontall".7 extendingtracks 39 which are mounted at 420 in the side frame structure of thecase 1. The sections 37 and 88 are movable late lally to close the lowerpanel opening 5. These sections are provided with beads ruiming in thetracks and also one section is provided with a pin l1 projecting througha slot -12 in the upper track section while the other door section 88 isprovided on one edge w'th a hook '-1-3. A similar tracl' structure anddoor sections 3T and 38 are mounted behind the upper panel for closingthe tracker bai' opening 4:. rlhe door section 3T ot he lower doorstructure is connected to the door section 87 of the upper structure bymeans of a cable lll trained over the pulleys iland 45, the pulley 45"being swivelly mounted on said case so as to allow the upper panel tomove outwardly into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 withoutdisturbing the cable ifrlso the door section 38 of the lower doorstructure is connected by a cable 46 with the door section 38 oi theupper door structure, the cable being hung on hook iii-8 and pin lll.also this cable -l-G is trained over pulleys fil-7 and 4&7 similar inarrangenient to the pulleys l5 and ilo. The door 38 of the lower doorstructure is also connected by a cable i18 ruiming over a pulley t9 tothe door section 37 ot the lower door structure. rhus with thisarrangement it will be seen that it any one ol' the door sections 3T, 38

or 37', 38 is moved the complete set of door sections will esin'iultaneously moved carry the door sections are mounted on the caseproper of the piano, and are entirely independent of the upper and lowerpanels 2 and 3, respectively. Also none of the mechanism for operatingthe door sections has any connection in any way whatsoever with eitherof these panels. Thus it will be evident that these panels 2 and 3 maybe moved or removed at will without disturbing any of the mechanismwhatsoever, but will in fact, expose such mechanism to facilitate andafford access for adjustment of the same.

Now in order to operate the door sections at the proper time so thatthey will not interfere with the operation of the treadles, I haveprovided a lever 52 pivoted at 53 to a bracket 54 hung from the key bedstructure. This lever 52 is rotatable about a fixed axis and has one end55 arranged to slidably and positively engage a pin 56 on the doorsection 38. The upper end of the lever 52 is provided with a toothedquadrant 57 engaging the gear 18 thus, as the lever 22 is moved therebyimparting motion to the gear 24.- to operate the treadles, key lock andkey slip, the pin 20 as soon as it reaches the end of the arcuate slot21 in the gear 18 will cause the gear 18 to move, thus imparting motionto the toothed quadrant 57 and through the medium of the lever 52 andits end 55 will impart motion to the door section 38. The door section38 being connected with the other door sections by cables will impartmotion to all of the door sections. For instance, suppose the partsmentioned are in the relative position shown in Fig. 9, now if thehandle 23 and its respective lever 22 are moved in the directionindicated bv the arrow shown on the handle the treadles will first moveupwardly and inwardly within the case 1 into a retracted or inoperativeposition, at the time the treadles move the key lock and key slip willalso move into their proper positions as indicated by the arrows, alsoat the time when the treadles are within the case the gear 18 will beginto move and act upon the door section 38 to move it in the directionindicated by the arrow thereon, consequently, a corresponding movementwill be imparted, by reason of the cable connections, to the doorsections 37, 37 and 38. The door sections 37 and 38 will move in adirection opposite to the door sections 37 and 38 thus the tracker baropening and treadle opening will be closed by the door sections as soonas the treadles are in retracted positions. It will be evident that whenthe handle 23 and its corresponding lever 22 are moved in a directionopposite to that indicated by the arrow on the handle 23 in Fig. 9 theparts comprising the arrangement will move in a reverse direction tothat just outlined and will move in consecutive. order so that the doorsections will ,first be opened and then the treadles will be projectedinto the operative position through the treadle opening and the key lockand key slip will be simultaneously operated to their respectivepositions.

Referring particularly to the modified form shown in Figs. 10 to 14inclusive, in which the door structures, door sections and treadles willbe designated by the same characters of reference as hereinbefore used`the operating mechanism comprises shaft 58 journaled in the side membersof the piano case as shown in Fig. 10. This shaft 58 carries an armwhich engages in a slot lost motion connection 60 on the end of aconnecting rod 61 which is pivoted at its lower end to the bell crank 10of the lever mechanism of the treadles. The shaft 58 carries a lever 62which is connected by levers 63 and 61 to the key lock 32, and in thisinstance the key slip 32 and key slip 29 are not directly connected, butthe shaft 58 carries at each end thereof levers 65 which connect withthe connecting rods 66 having one pivoted to bell crank levers 67mounted on the piano case; also one end of each of the bell crank levers67 is connected to the kev slip 29 by means of the rods 68. Thus it.will be seen that if the shaft 58 is rotated motion will be imparted tothe key lock, key slip and treadles simultaneously. Now in order torotate the shaft 58 T have provided. according to the modified form ofthe invention, an arm 69 mounted on the said shaft 58 and having in itsupper end an elongated slot 70, and mounted cn a bracket 71 is a lever72 pivoted at 73. This lever has an offset 71 to which is pivoted a link75 having a bifurcated end 76 carrying a pin 77 which engages in theslot 7 0 of the lever 69; thus as the lever 72 is moved it will impartthrough the medium of the slidable connection of the levers 69 and 76rotary motion to the shaft 58 in a direction corresponding to thedirection in which the lever 72 is moved. N ow for operating the doorsections a lever 78 is provided having atits lower end a slotted portion78 slidably and positively engaging a pin 79 on one of the door sections38. The lever 72 is extended at its rear end and has therein an arcuateslot 80 in which the end of the lever 78 rests thus providing a lostmotion connection between the lever 72 and the doors. This lost motionccnnection is so arranged that the operation of the treadles and doorsin consecutive order will be like that of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 9inclusive, that is, in closing the instrument the treadles will be movedinto the retracted or inoperative position before the doors begin toclose, or in opening the instrument for automatic use, the operationwill be vice versa in consecutive order. l

In Fig. 12.1 have shown another modified form of pivoting the leverwhich provides it'or a lost motion connection at the pivot point of thelever TQ. This is taken care ol: by the cam surface 81 ivhich as thelever moves engages vvith the lug lt may be desirable in certain formsot' piano construction to employ this rather than the fo in shoivn inFig. 13.

illhile l have herein shoivn and described specific lorms ot myinvention, l do not vvish to be lv ited thereto except for suchlimitations the claims may import.

I claim l. in instrument case having an opening, a door structure torsaid opening composed sections, pulleys mounted on said aise, Vflexiblemeans trained over said pulleys and connecting said sections, and meanspositively and slidably engaging one ot said sections to move said doorsections into a clcsed position.

2. in instrument case including upper and loiver panels, each having anopening. doors tor said openings, pulleys mounted on said case, flexiblemeans trained over said pulleys and connected to said doors foriinultaneous movement when one of said doors is moved, and meansengaging one ot' said doors to move all ot said doors into the open orclosed position.

Ytherein, a door structure for said opening inou` 'ed for movementindependent of the position oi said panel Wall and composed ot connectedsections, and lever i' echanism positively and s.idably engaging one otsaid sections to move said door structure into an pen or closedposition.

ln a player piano, a case including upper and loiver panels, each havingopenings, doors for said openings, expression levers, a key slip, a keylock, 'treadles movable through said loiver panel opening into operativeand inoperative positions. and means for operating said key slip and keylock and having lost motion connection -with said doors `nd treadlesrespectively whereby said doors may be moved into an open position andthe treadles then brought into an operative position, or vice versa.

G. ln a player piano, a ase including upper and loiver panels, eachhaving an openina'. expression levers, a key slip, a lrey lockpositively connected with said cover 'for operation simultaneouslyherewith, treadles movable through said lower panel openinO intooperative and inoperative positions, and

means operating said lfey slip and lrey lock and having lost motionconnection with said doors and treadles respectively, whereby said doorsmay be moved into an open position. and the treadles then brougli intoan operative position or vice versa.

7. ln a player piano, a case including upper and loiver panels eachhaving an opening, doors tor said openings, expression levers, a keyslip, a key lock, treadles movable through said loiver panel openingsinto operative and inoperative positions, and means operating said keyslip and key loclz and positively and sli dably engaging' one oit saiddoors to move all olf said. doors into an open or closed position.

8. ln a player piano, a case including upper and loiver panels eachhaving an opening, mcchanisn'i including` connected doors for saidopenings, evpression leve slip, a ltey lock, treadles movable n saidloiver panel opening into operative and inoperative positions and meansoperating said lrev slip and lrev loclr and connected with saidmechanism tor moving all olf said doors into an open or closed position.and moving said treadles into operative and inoperative positions.

9. ln a player piano, a case including,` upper and loiver panels havingopenings, doors for said openings, expression levers, a` key slip, a keylock, treadles movable through said loiver panel opening into oiieratingand inoperative positions, means for operating said key slip and lteylock, and means 'for operating said treadles and doors synchronously-with the operation ot the key slip and key lock.

10. ln a player piano, a case including upper and loiver panels havingopenings., doors for said openings, expression levers` a lrev slip, akey locl, treadles movable through said door panel openings intooperative and inoperative positions, means for operating said key slipand key lock. and means lor operating said treadles and doorsconsecutively ivith respect to each other and svnchronously with theoperation ot said key slip and key lock.

1l. An instrument case having an opening, treadles for projectionthrough said opening into and out of operative position, a doorstructure for said opening, shitting mechanism for said treadles anddoor structure including toothed gear driven connection with saidstructure and a lost motion tooth geared drive connected with saidtreadles.

12. An instrument case having an opening, treadles for projectionthrough said opening into and out ot operative positions, a doorstructure for said opening'. and shifting mechanism for said treadlesand door structure including` toothed gear driven con- Cil nection Withsaid structure and a lost motion toothed gear drive with said treadle.said gears being movable in the same direction.

13.l An instrument case having an opening, treadles for projectionthrough said opening into and out of operative positions, a doorstructure for said opening, and shifting mechanism for said treadles anddoor structure including rotatable toothed gear drive means for saiddoor structure, and a lost motion rotatable toothed gear drive connectedwith said treadles.

14. An instrument case having an opening, treadles for projectionthrough said opening into and out of operative positions, a doorstructure for said openings, and shifting mechanism for said treadiesand door structure including toothed gear driven connection with saidstructure, and a lost motion toothed gear drive connected With treadlesand driven from said toothed gear driven connection.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof tivo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM J. CHERRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

said 20

